Purdue Women sink Illini

Purdue Sends Illini Home

by Brad Gossett and Steven Stremming

Game Two on Day One of the Women’s Big Ten Basketball tournament paired two teams desperate for a win.

Illinois came into the game 10-19 and 2 and 16 in conference while Purdue came in 17 and 14 with a eight and ten conference mark.

To break it down even more Illinois had won only two of their previous sixteen games while Purdue had came out victorious in only two of their past eleven games.

Purdue struck early behind Sophomore Karissa McLaughlin’s three first half three pointers and the inside play of teammates Junior Dominique Oden and Rock Springs, Georgia sophomore Lyndsey Whilby.

Photo by: Steven Underwood, Excel High School Sports

 

Adding to the effort was the solid guard play of Martinsville, Indiana freshman Kayana Traylor.

Taylor finished the game with a team high seven assists.

Whiteland, Indiana freshman Mackenzie Blazek got the Illini back in the game with solid play on both ends of the court. Blazek ended her first Big Ten conference tournament with seven out of nine from the field for 15 points and six rebounds. The Illini were led by Memphis, Tennessee junior Brandi Beasley’s eighteen.

Photo by: Steven Underwood, Excel High School Sports

Alex Wittinger added five rebounds and became the all-time block shot leader for the Illini  in program history.

McLaughlin led the Boilers with 17 followed by Pierrefonds, Quebec’s Tamara Farquhar 14 and thirteen a piece from Lawrence North’s Ae’Rianna and Atlanta, Georgia junior Dominque Oden’s thirteen.

Photo by: Steven Underwood, Excel High School Sports

Harris led the Boilers with nine boards followed by Farquhar’s eight and Nyagony Gony’s seven.

Purdue now 18 and 14 move on to face Nebraska while Illinois is sent home at ten and twenty.